This series of four articles in a style similar to a stream-of-consciousness format wants to shed some light onto the challenge we face in times of enormous climate challenges:
The proposed taxation of estimated fossil fuel reserves realizes a concept of fictionalized gain that forces companies to exploit all available resources, which is detrimental to global climate when done with current technology, i.e. without carbon capture. (It remains to be seen how the similar concept of advanced flat capital gains tax will affect private ETF investors)
In-situ mining of oil sands and leaching of ore deposits promise new ways to extract resources from otherwise unviable deposits.
Novel bioreactors for oil sand tailings could help clean up the toxic remains left behind after processing the extracted crude: https://www.googlesciencefair.com/projects/en/2014/ac15475dbf66c3811244a629ba10e4139111ea2389204ed13bcca114bff38f70
In-situ coal gasification would allow to exploit coal seams without having to dig them up, while simplifying the process of carbon capture. Products of this advanced process are syngas and synfuel. This technology also enables exploitation of undersea coal reserves that would otherwise be inaccessible. (https://petrowiki.spe.org/PEH:In-Situ_Combustion)
In addition, fossil fuel deposits contain non-negligible amounts of radioactive material, which, when they are released into the environment during the conventional firing process, are more harmful than if these elements (such as thorium) were to be extracted from the fly ash and used as fuel in nuclear power plants. With the fly ash stripped of radioactive elements, it can used in concrete for building construction or roadway surfaces more safely.
http://www.ieaghg.org/docs/general_publications/8.pdf
Drilling fluids account for about 80 % of global baryte usage. Finding alternatives to free up baryte for use in high-density concrete applications of fallout shelters needs to be of higher priority.
Fossil fuel infrastructure can be given a second, more environmentally beneficial, life, in an effort to enable future developments that are independent of a certain technology path:
This includes the modification of processes ion existing refinieries to shift production from combustible fuel to LOHC (liquid organic hydrogen carrier). Using toluol and benzyl chloride to create dibenzyl chloride in a Friedel-Crafts alkylation yields a diesel-like LOHC that allows hydrogen to be transported in a liquid without cryocooling requirements. One liter of this LOHC can bind 650 litres of hydrogen, facilitating a mobility concept that does not need high-pressure vessels.